Domestic rural poverty, development focus of new anti-hunger report

Published: 2005-03-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- While hunger remains far more prevalent in poorer nations, especially in the Southern Hemisphere and parts of Asia, those regions share something in particular with the United States: Rural inhabitants tend to be the poorest people and those most vulnerable to hunger. This is one of the conclusions of Bread for the World's annual hunger report, issued March 15. Titled "Strengthening Rural Communities," it said two-thirds of the world's hungry inhabitants rely on agriculture for a significant percentage of their incomes. In the United States, the highest percentage of people it considers "food insecure" live in rural areas. The report added that one in five rural children is "food insecure," defined as "a condition of uncertain availability of or ability to acquire safe, nutritious food in a socially acceptable way."

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .